Russian oil plant fire kills eight people

A Russian oil plant in erupted in flames, killing eight people.

A fire at an oil processing plant broke out in western Siberia, Xinhua reported. At least eight people have died.

The fire broke out in the oil-rich, western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiisk, at a plant belonging to the Invest-Oil company, Reuters reported. Investigators suspect that a gas explosion may have caused the fire.

The fire consumed 25,000 square feet, Agence France-Presse reported. In addition to the eight deaths, another eight people were injured and seven were taken to intensive care with burns. The fire has since been put out. Industrial accidents and fires are common in Russia, according to the AFP, because of lax regulations and old equipment.